Page 57 of We Can Forever

Carol’s lips draw thin. “This is worse than the other ones. We’re at the hospital. We can have you looked?—”

“No.” It takes nearly the last of my energy to get the word out.

She doesn’t know what my flares have been like recently, because she hasn’t been around. And, of course, that’s not her fault—we live states away. I just wish she understood that this is my body, my flare. I know how to deal with it. There’s nothing the hospital can do for me anyway. If they admit me and I get in to see a doctor, they’ll just look at me like I’m crazy for asking to be seen when I already know how to care for myself.

“There’s no point,” I tell my aunt.

“Of course there is.” She shakes her head, long earrings sweeping against her shoulders. “This isn’t like the other ones.”

“It is,” Michael says. “Her last flare was like this.”

Carol’s face turns red. “I’ve known Hannah for years. If she doesn’t?—”

“And Hannah knows her own body.” His voice is calm and collected but firm. He turns back to me. “Hannah?”

Michael touches my wrist, and I wince. It’s a light touch, but it sends pain up my arm.

“Sorry.” He withdraws his hand. “Let’s get you home. Would you like me to carry you?”

I shake my head. That would be too painful. As hard as it is to walk, I’ll manage.

Carol huffs and stands. “All right. We’ll go home. I still wish you would stay here, though.”

The girls gather around, telling me it’s okay, that I need to get home and they’ll text when they hear more about Maya. All I can do is smile and shuffle my way to the door.

“You need to eat,” Carol is saying. “And we can stop and get you?—”

“I just need to rest,” I say.

She clicks her tongue. “Hannah, stop arguing. I know what I’m talking about.”

“She isn’t arguing.” Michael stands between me and her. “Carol, I know you want to help, but we’re going to follow Hannah’s lead here, and that’s not up for debate.”

Tears of gratitude fill my eyes, and I suddenly realize just how badly my aunt’s nervousness is wearing me down. What hurts doubly is the fact that she doesn’t seem to trust me. She doesn’t believe I know how to take care of myself.

With that realization comes another one. The last place I want to be right now is home. Because that’s where Carol is going.

I suck in a painful breath.

“Hannah?” Carol steps around Michael to look at me.

I swallow hard. “I…”

“Come to our house.” Katie blinks at me with big, caring eyes. “You can sleep in my room.”

It’s like she knows exactly what I need when I’m too afraid to admit it to myself. I need peace. Quiet.

Which I can’t get with my aunt around, as much as I hate that.

I lick my lips. “That sounds good.”

Carol’s face is incredulous. “Hannah…”

“I just…need this…” I trail off, exasperated, so tired at this point that my tongue feels like it’s made from lead. I’m not even sure how much longer I can speak for.

“I see,” she whispers.

“I’ll get the truck.” Michael jogs through the automatic doors.

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